Man Shoots Ex-wife and Five Other People in Mississippi Mass Shooting

In a small rural town in the US state of Mississippi, a man with three guns fatally murdered his ex-wife and five other people during a shooting rampage, according to authorities. In the town of Arkabutla, which has fewer than 300 residents, the victims were murdered at many locations, including a store and two homes.

A resident, 52, has been detained at the county jail after being charged with first-degree murder by police. His attack’s motivation has not yet been determined. Tate Reeves, the governor of Mississippi, stated that the suspect is thought to have operated alone.

According to Sheriff Brad Lance, the shooting spree started when the shooter went into a gas station convenience shop at around 11:00 local time (17:00 GMT) and shot a man with whom he had no apparent relationship.

Next, according to CNN, he went to a nearby house and fatally shot his ex-wife while striking but not shooting her fiancé. The gunman allegedly drove to a home next to his own and fatally shot a man who may have been his stepfather and an unidentified lady, according to investigators, the New York Times.

Then, not far from his home, he shot two people—one on the road and the other inside a car. According to Sheriff Lance, the last two victims appear to have been construction workers performing at the scene.

After a brief car chase, deputies located the suspect inside a vehicle that matched witness descriptions and were able to detain him close to his residence.